Chain tightener



June 14, 1938. w. AHEINRICH .CHAI-N TVIGHTENER Filed se t. so, 1935Patented June 14, 1938 CHAIN TIGHT'ENER Walter A. Heinrich, St. Louis,Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application September 30, 1935, Serial No.42,832

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to chain tighteners, and morespecifically to an improved chain tightener adapted particularly for useas a part of a pole-embracing assembly which includes a 5 length ofchain that is passed about a pole for the purpose of securing to thepole a linemens work platform, a temporary cross arm or temporary sidearm, a wire tong support, and various other structures and devices whichare temporarily attached to electrical conductor-supporting poles, thepredominant object of the in vention being to provide an extremelysimple chain tightener of this type which is capable of performing itsintended function of tightening a chain about a pole or other supportingstructure in a highly efficient manner.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the improved chain tightener.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the improved chain tightener in use as a partof a pole-embracing assembly which secures a linemens platform to apole, the pole being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 25 44 of F g. 3.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates in Figs. 3 and 4an electrical conductor-supporting pole with which is associated alinemens work platform 13. The particular platform B has fixed to theend thereof which is located adjacent to the pole A a pair of members Cand C, which include bifurcated portions C and C3 that extend outwardlybeyond 35 theadjacent end of the platform B. The members C and C arefixed to the platform by screws D and by an elongated bolt E whichextends through apertures formed in portions of the members and throughan opening formed transversely 40 through the platform. Attached to thebifurcated portions of the members C and C is a saddle element F, whichis provided with opposed flanges F having apertures formed therethrough,through which bolts G pass, said bolts passing also through aperturesformed through the spaced legs of said bifurcated portions C and C ofthe members and C' and transversely of the spaces between said spacedlegs. The intermediate portion of the saddle element F which is locatedbetween the flanges F is shaped as shown in Fig. 3, and said portioncontacts with the pole A as illustrated in the view men tioned, saidintermediate portion of the saddle element being provided with a rib Fwhich gives to said portion the required strength and rigidity.

Attached to the bifurcated portion C of the member C is a length ofchain H, said attachment of the length of chain to said bifurcatedportion of said member being accomplished by locating an end link of thelength of chain between the spaced legs of the bifurcated portion C ofthe member C and extending the bolt G associated with said bifurcatedportion through said link. The length of chain .H forms a part of apole-embracing assembly which includes one of the improved chaintighteners T, said chain tightener being attached to the bifurcatedportion C of the member 0' by a pair of connected chain links J and J,the link J of which extends between the spaced legs of said bifurcatedportion C and embraces the bolt G associated with said bifurcatedportion.

The chain tightener T comprises a hollow bar l preferably of rectangularcross-section which, at its outer end, is provided with spaced ears 2,the link J being located between these spaced ears and a pin 3 beingextended through apertures formed through the ears-and through said linkin a manner to loosely connect the link J to the bar I. At the end ofthe bar I opposite to the end thereof at which the spaced ears arelocated an end Wall 4 is provided (Fig. 1) through which ascrew-threaded opening 5 is formed. The chain tightener T includes alsoa tubular element 6, preferably of rectangular cross-section, which isarranged in telescopic relation with respect to the bar I, as shown tothe best advantage in Figs. 1 and 2. The tubular element 6 is providedwith an outer end wall 1, at the outer face of which a head 8 isarranged, said head having fixed thereto a screw-threaded rod 9 thatpasses through an opening formed in the end wall 1 of the tubularelement 6. The screw-threaded rod is extended through the tubularelement 6 and passes through the screw-threaded opening 5 in the endwall of the hollow bar I into the hollow interior of said bar, as shownin Fig. 1, and said head 8 is provided with a loop portion II] which isadapted to receive a suitable tool so as to facilitate the operation ofrotating the head and the rod.

The tubular element of the chain tightener has formed thereon a pair ofspaced ears to which a buckle II is attached through the instrumentalityof a link [2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The buckle includes a loopportion !3 and a prong l4, said loop portion being of such dimensionsthat the links of the length of chain H may pass therethrough, and saidloop being pivoted to the prong at the point designated by the referencecharacter l5.

In the use of the improved chain tightener as a part of the poleassembly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the length of chain H is passedaround the pole A after the saddle element F has been properlypositioned in contact with the pole. The free end portion of the lengthof chain is then passed through the loop portion I3 of the buckle II,and the length of chain is drawn as tight as possible about the pole,after which the prong I4 of the buckle is extended through a link of thelength of chain to connect the chain and the buckle together. With theaid of a suitable tool introduced into the loop portion ID of the head 8of the chain tightener, the head 8 and screwthreaded rod 9 are thenrotated, such rotation of the screw-threaded rod causing the tubularelement 6 to move inwardly longitudinally of the bar I. This results inthe assembly comprised of the saddle element F, the length of chain H,the buckle H, and the chain tightener T being drawn tightly about thepole, so as to rigidly and firmly connect the pole-embracing assembly tothe pole.

-In order to prevent accidental complete disengagement of thescrew-threaded rod 9 from the bar I, the end of said rod is peaned overas indicated at 9' in Fig. l.

I claim:

1. A chain tightener for tightening a chain about a pole or like objectcomprising a saddle member adapted for contact with a pole or likeobject to one side of which member a chain to be tightened is attached,and a chain tightening device movably attached by means of a shortsection of chain to said member at the side of said member opposite tothe side thereof at which said chain is attached thereto, saidtightening device comprising a hollow bar having a screwthreaded openingformed in an end wall thereof, a tubular member with which said hollowbar is arranged in telescoping relation, said tubular member having anend wall provided with a smooth opening, a rod extended through thesmooth opening of said tubular member and having a screwthreaded portionextended through the screwthreaded opening of said bar, a headassociated with said bar for facilitating rotation thereof, and anelement movably attached to said tightening device for releasablyengaging said chain, said pole-contacting member being attached to saidhollow bar of said tightening device and said chain-engaging elementbeing attached to said tubular member of said tightening device.

2. A chain tightener for tightening a chain about a pole or like objectcomprising a saddle member adapted for contact with a pole or likeobject to one side of which member a chain to be tightened is attached,and a chain tightening device movably attached by means of a shortsection of chain to said member at the side of said member opposite tothe side thereof at which said chain is attached thereto, saidtightening device comprising a hollow bar having a screwthreaded openingformed in an end wall thereof, a tubular member with which said hollowbar is arranged in telescoping relation, said tubular member having anend wall provided with a smooth opening, a rod extended through thesmooth opening of said tubular member andhaving a screwthreaded portionextended through the screwthreaded opening of said bar, a headassociated with said bar for facilitating rotation thereof, and anelement comprising a buckle movably attached to said tightening devicefor releasably engaging said chain, said pole-contacting member beingattached to said hollow bar of said tightening device and saidchain-engaging element being attached to said tubular member of saidtightening device.

WALTER A. HEINRICH.

